Power supply unit, distributed power supply system and electric vehicle loaded therewith

Abstract

A power supply unit, a distributed power supply system and an electric vehicle loaded therewith, capable of charge/discharge operation are disclosed. A first cell group is connected in parallel to a second cell group in which the electrolytic solution can be electrolyzed or the generated gas can be recombined. A plurality of the parallel circuit pairs are connected in series, and the series circuit is connected with a charger/discharger to constitute the power supply unit. The charger/discharger charges the power supply unit up to a voltage at which the electrolytic solution of the second cell group is electrolyzed or the generated gas is recombined.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A power supply unit comprising: 
       at least one storage battery comprising a plurality of circuits connecting in series, each of the plurality of circuits including a first cell group and a second cell group connected in parallel; wherein said second cell group utilizes an electrolyzable electrolytic solution, or generates recombinable gas; and  
       a charger/discharger for controlling charge/discharge of said storage battery adapted to charge said storage battery up to a voltage at which the electrolytic solution of said second cell group is electrolyzed, or to a voltage at which the generated gas is recombined.  
     
     
       2. A power supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said first cell group and said second cell group are connected in parallel through a current limiter. 
     
     
       3. A power supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one storage battery comprises a plurality of said storage batteries connected in parallel. 
     
     
       4. A power supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the withstanding voltage of said first cell group is higher than the withstanding voltage of said second cell group. 
     
     
       5. A power supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of circuits includes a plurality of said second cell groups connected in series. 
     
     
       6. A power supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said first cell group and said second cell group share at least one component element. 
     
     
       7. A power supply unit according to  claim 6 , wherein said shared component element is the electrolytic solution. 
     
     
       8. A power supply unit according to  claim 6 , wherein at least selected one of said first cell group and said second cell group has an electrode formed of selected one of carbon fiber and carbon nanotube. 
     
     
       9. A power supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein 
       the first cell group of each of the plurality of circuits is connected to the first cell group of other circuits in series;  
       the second cell group of each of the plurality of circuits is connected to the second cell group of other circuits in series; and  
       the first cell group and the second cell group of each of the plurality of circuits are connected with an intermediate terminal.  
     
     
       10. A power supply unit according to  claim 5 , wherein 
       the first cell group of each of the plurality of circuits is connected to the first cell group of other circuits in series;  
       the second cell group of each of the plurality of circuits is connected to the second cell group of other circuits in series; and  
       the first cell group and the second cell group of each of the plurality of circuits are connected with an intermediate terminal.